The clearing is shrouded in mist, silver moonlight spilling through the skeletal branches overhead. The stillness in the air is deafening. They’re all here, the ones who meant the world to you once—Tom, Draco, Blaise, Theo, Lorenzo, Regulus. And him.

Mattheo.

He stands at the center of the group, his dark curls tousled by the breeze, eyes smoldering with defiance yet tinged with something softer—pain. He steps toward you, breaking away from the others.

"You don’t have to do this," he says, his voice steady but low.

"Don't I?" you snap, your tone colder than you intended. You know what Voldem0rt demanded, what he’ll do to you if you don’t obey.

His lips twitch into a faint, humorless smile. "I won’t fight you."

His words crash into you like a curse, stealing the air from your lungs. He means it—there’s no anger, no resistance, just the raw truth of his surrender.

"Then you d*e," you whisper, though the words taste like ash.

Behind him, the others watch, their expressions a mix of defiance and fear. They don’t move to stop you, but their presence feels like a noose tightening around your resolve.

Mattheo takes another step forward, his eyes locking onto yours. “If that’s what it takes,” he says. “If it means you’ll live, I’ll let you do it.”

Your grip on the wand falters, and your chest tightens as a storm of emotions surges through you—anger, despair, love. This is the boy who made you laugh when the world felt unbearable, who stood beside you through battles you’d both rather forget. And now, he’s offering you his life as if it’s the simplest thing in the world.

"You don’t understand!" you shout, your voice cracking. “It’s him! He’ll k*ll me if I don’t—”

Mattheo reaches out, his hand brushing against yours. “Then let’s make it about you. What do you want?”

You falter, staring at him, the world spinning around you. In his eyes, you see no fear—only trust, a trust you don’t deserve. The weight of your choices crushes you, and for a fleeting moment, you wonder if there’s a way out of this darkness.